Forgiveness

When someone you care about hurts you, you can hold on to anger, resentment, and thoughts of revenge, or embrace forgiveness and move forward.

Who hasn't been hurt by the actions or words of another? A parent constantly criticizing, a spouse cheating, someone you trusted spreads your business, being physically or emotionally abused - all these can leave you with lasting feelings of anger and bitterness, even vengeance. If you don't practice forgiveness, you might be the one who pays most dearly. Embracing forgiveness can bring peace, hope, gratitude, and even joy. Forgiveness does not mean forgetting. Getting another person to change their actions, behavior, or words isn't the point of forgiveness. It's more about changing your life and being free of the hurt by taking away the power the other person continues to wield in your life. It can bring you peace, happiness, and emotional and spiritual healing.

God in Jesus forgave us by becoming every single sin of every single person (past, present, and future) and conquering death, which is the consequence we deserve. He canceled that debt we owed but that doesn't mean we don't have consequences for our sins. It means we are forgiven. When He forgives us we are reconciled through Jesus and He restores the relationship that sin shattered. When we forgive as God forgives us we want to repay with good instead of evil.

"Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:17-21

Lord

Of

Victory

Everlasting.

John 3:14-17